The jury will not give Trump a prison sentence. They are only responsible for deciding whether Trump is guilty or not guilty of the charges.

[Procrustes Stretched]

Here are a few observations from the courtroom. Observations provided by reporters sitting in the courtroom itself.

When we left, Todd Blanche had just been eviscerated by Justice Merchan for telling the jurors that they can’t send Trump “to prison” on Michael Cohen’s words. The moment was tough for Blanche. But the defense lawyer may have accomplished what he wanted by leaving a memory of those words in the jurors’ minds.

By emphasizing that Trump faces prison to the jury, which is only responsible for deciding whether he is guilty or not guilty of the charges, Todd Blanche was able to remind them their deliberations could have weighty consequences. The prosecution doesn’t want them thinking about those consequences — only the case itself.

As proceedings resume, a prosecutor, Susan Hoffinger, reminds the judge that before the trial began, he himself precluded the jury from hearing anything about potential punishments for Trump. “Mr. Blanche was certainly on notice that this was an improper argument,” Hoffinger says.

Hoffinger also argues that the defense misstated the law when it came to how legal retainer agreements work in New York. Todd Blanche is now arguing with that, saying he is willing to litigate the issue further this evening.

Justice Merchan is now instructing the jurors that Todd Blanche’s comment about sending Trump “to prison” was “improper” and that they must disregard it. He reminds them that a prison sentence is not required in the event of a guilty verdict.

And this is after the defense's closing arguments, and after a lunch break. Next to follow will be the closing arguments of teh prosecution.

Power Shifts to Jury as Closing Arguments Finish in Trump Trial

Jurors heard a meticulous recounting of five weeks of testimony in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, in which prosecutors argued he tried to “hoodwink the American voter.” The defense said there was not “a shred of evidence.”

www.nytimes.com

 

[rightwinger]

Trump will not see Prison in this case.

If convicted, some type of probation, community service, fine

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

Here we go...


observations from within the courtroom:

Joshua Steinglass is an experienced trial lawyer. He delivered the closing arguments at the trial of the Trump Organization in 2022, and that was a relatively dry paper case against a company, not a person. We’ll see how he does here.

Joshua Steinglass opens by reminding the jury that during opening statements, his colleague said that the case, at its core, is about “a conspiracy and a coverup.” He then delineates three elements that the prosecution must prove: That there were false business records, that they were used as part of the conspiracy and that Trump himself was involved.

note OhPleaseJustQuit hits "Fake News" It's trolling as linking to reporting is not fake news. It's inconvenient news for people who want to wish reality away.

 

[para bellum]

Here we go...


observations from within the courtroom:

Joshua Steinglass opens by reminding the jury that during opening statements, his colleague said that the case, at its core, is about “a conspiracy and a coverup.” He then delineates three elements that the prosecution must prove: That there were false business records, that they were used as part of the conspiracy and that Trump himself was involved.

So did Merchan shut him down for the improper jury instruction?

The judge is the only one supposedly allowed to tell the jury what the law is. Steinglass completely omits the "intent to defraud" element that is central to the charges.

 

[Donald H]

Predictions?

Not on Trump's guilt or innocence.
Rather, on the survival of America's justice system.
For the sake of preventing nuclear war, I'm solidly in favour of him being found not guilty!

 

[Faun]

Here are a few observations from the courtroom. Observations provided by reporters sitting in the courtroom itself.







And this is after the defense's closing arguments, and after a lunch break. Next to follow will be the closing arguments of teh prosecution.

Power Shifts to Jury as Closing Arguments Finish in Trump Trial

Jurors heard a meticulous recounting of five weeks of testimony in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, in which prosecutors argued he tried to “hoodwink the American voter.” The defense said there was not “a shred of evidence.”

www.nytimes.com

I don't think he'll be convicted but even if he is, I don't think he should go to prison for it.

 

[MarathonMike]

So did Merchan shut him down for the improper jury instruction?

The judge is the only one supposedly allowed to tell the jury what the law is. Steinglass completely omits the "intent to defraud" element that is central to the charges.

Everything about this case and trial is a mockery of US Justice. The Judge should be defrocked.

 

[rightwinger]

For the sake of preventing nuclear war, I'm solidly in favour of him being found not guilty!

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

So did Merchan shut him down for the improper jury instruction?

The judge is the only one supposedly allowed to tell the jury what the law is. Steinglass completely omits the "intent to defraud" element that is central to the charges.

Wrong

next

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

Predictions?

Not on Trump's guilt or innocence.
Rather, on the survival of America's justice system.
For the sake of preventing nuclear war, I'm solidly in favour of him being found not guilty!

The system will do just fine. It has been beaten, battered , and abused before.

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

Everything about this case and trial is a mockery of US Justice. The Judge should be defrocked.

Go troll elsewhere with conspiracy theories, you weirdo. Oh wait!

You channel the defense bullshit:

Todd Blanche just offered quite a quote — and take — on the nature of American politics, saying that it didn’t matter if there was “a conspiracy to win an election.” He adds: “Every campaign in this country is a conspiracy” to elect a candidate.

He continues to hammer this idea home, saying: “This is the campaign, this is an election, this is not a crime.”

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

funny moments in a courtroom.

Joshua Steinglass just took a potshot at the defendant. “Mr. Trump decided, like he often does, 'I’m not going to pay this bill,'” he said, of the payment to the technology firm for which Michael Cohen was eventually overpaid when he was reimbursed in 2017.

Steinglass now sounds like he’s enjoying himself. He’s noting that the defense accused Cohen of stealing for overstating the amount he was owed for paying the technology firm. Steinglass acknowledges that Cohen was wrong to steal. But, he says, “it’s not a defense to a false business records charge that one of the conspirators is also guilty for stealing from another.”

Joshua Steinglass gets at a central tension of Todd Blanche's cross-examination — that he is trying to both say this wasn’t a reimbursement and it was also a legitimate legal expense.

“Their arguments are not necessarily consistent, but they’re passionate,” Steinglass says, as he harps on a disparity between one portion of the defense's argument that suggests Trump didn’t know about the reimbursement and another that suggests that he did.

 

[MarathonMike]

Go troll elsewhere with conspiracy theories, you weirdo. Oh wait!

You channel the defense bullshit:

Dante do you know what "statute of limitations means"? The entire SHAM CASE is based on a misdemeanor that was SETTLED in 2016. The Democrats have set the low water mark for American Justice. Throw your hissy fits all you want, that's the truth.

 

[Magnus]

Predictions?

Not on Trump's guilt or innocence.
Rather, on the survival of America's justice system.
For the sake of preventing nuclear war, I'm solidly in favour of him being found not guilty!

What the fuck are you babbling about? "Nuclear War"? From whom? Trump supporters? LOL

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

Uh oh!

Joshua Steinglass keys in on something Michael Cohen has long said about Trump, telling the jurors: “These guys know each other well. They speak in coded language, and they speak fast.”

An experienced and very good prosecutor at work:

Joshua Steinglass did something fairly remarkable here as he sought to counter the defense's argument that Michael Cohen called Trump's bodyguard, Keith Schiller, not Trump himself, on the evening of Oct. 24. The defense argued that the call was about a teenage prank caller who had been bothering him, not about arranging the hush-money payment, as prosecutors had said.

Steinglass just started a timer and pretended to have the exact same conversation, adding plenty of asides and silences as he played the role of Cohen, talking first to Schiller and then to Trump.

The call felt as if it lasted a long time. But when Steinglass stopped the timer, it had only been about 49 seconds, about as long as the call in question. The point he was seeking to illustrate was simple: That Cohen could have easily talked to both men, just like he testified.

This was a real piece of showmanship — clever and useful at the same time. Moments like these show Steinglass’s experience, as a longtime trial lawyer who can lean into the innate theatricality of the role.

Wow!

"Listening to this from Joshua Steinglass, and knowing we have hours to go — if Todd Blanche accomplishes nothing else in this trial, it will have been a miracle that he got Trump to agree not to testify and kept him relatively calm in the courtroom."

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

Dante do you know what "statute of limitations means"? The entire SHAM CASE is based on a misdemeanor that was SETTLED in 2016. The Democrats have set the low water mark for American Justice. Throw your hissy fits all you want, that's the truth.

That has been addressed even before the trial. Read the indictment.

 

[Procrustes Stretched]

What the fuck are you babbling about? "Nuclear War"? From whom? Trump supporters? LOL

Maybe Trump's Russian handlers?

 

[Seymour Flops]

Trump will not see Prison in this case.

If convicted, some type of probation, community service, fine

I'm sure you are correct. But these are felony charges, so Mr. Merchan would certainly have the power to impose a prison sentence. Therefore Blanche's warning to the jury about not sending Trump - or anyone else - to prison on the word of an inveterate liar were perfectly appropriate.

 

[Meathead]

Trump will not see Prison in this case.

If convicted, some type of probation, community service, fine

That Trump goes to prison is a lefties wet dream. In the unlikely event he is convicted of anything, it won't make any difference anyway. Only very stupid people believe this something other than a witch hunt and they're all lefties anyway.

 

[rightwinger]

That Trump goes to prison is a lefties wet dream. In the unlikely event he is convicted of anything, it won't make any difference anyway. Only very stupid people believe this something other than a witch hunt and they're all lefties anyway.

The jury will make that decision NOT the RW media